Ashes of Roses
When the Great War ends, the world is forever changed. For the people of the small town of Rose Hill, Kentucky, the war has brought tragedy and heartache. The town's beloved doctor, Dr. John, has been killed in battle, leaving behind his daughter, Rose. Rose is determined to honor her father's memory by fulfilling his dream of opening a hospital in Rose Hill. But the townspeople are skeptical of her plan, and Rose must fight to make her dream a reality. Meanwhile, Rose's best friend, Will, is struggling to come to terms with his own losses. He has returned from the war a changed man, and he and Rose must find a way to reconnect. As Rose and Will work to build a hospital, they must also confront the secrets of their pasts and the pain of their losses. In the end, they must decide if they can find a way to move forward together.
By Leigh Gordon Giltner · First published 1900 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction · 207 words
First lines
Skies glooming overhead, Autumn winds sighing; Bare yonder garden bed, Flowers low lying. All their rich radiance fled, All their pale petals shed, Wan wraiths of Summer sped, In Autumn's closes; Crimson and cream and gold Strewn on earth's bosom cold, Mingling with umber mold-- Ashes of roses.
See, in yon waning West Rich roses blowing On Heaven's palimpsest God's message glowing; Rose hues and amethyst Drenched in purpureate mist, Darkness with Day keeps tryst, Night's curtain closes; Quenched is the burning gold, Shadowed the upland wold, Day's fires grow dull and cold Ashes of roses.
What this Textopian page supports
Ashes of Roses is listed on Textopian as a short story by Leigh Gordon Giltner, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction, Family Saga
- Length: 207 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ashes of Roses by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Ashes of Roses?
- How does this short story by Leigh Gordon Giltner fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Under The Leaves by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Sunflowers by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- The New Spring by Theodosia Pickrering Garrison
- Regret by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Butterflies by Leigh Gordon Giltner
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — Ashes of Roses is set in the early 1900s and follows the story of a young woman's journey to find her place in the world. This makes it a historical fiction novel.
- Romance — The novel follows the main character's journey of self-discovery and her romantic relationships with two different men. This makes it a romance novel.
- Women's Fiction — The novel follows the main character's journey of self-discovery and her struggles with identity and relationships. This makes it a women's fiction novel.
- Family Saga — The novel follows the main character's journey of self-discovery and her relationships with her family. This makes it a family saga novel.
Tags
American poetry · age · ashes · autumn · bare · cream · crimson · darkness · dim · dimly · drenched · dull